Final answer:
The responsibility of providing and paying for a healthcare worker's PPE falls to their employer, which can include private hospitals, nonprofit organizations, or governmental agencies, varying by specific healthcare system contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Providing and paying for a healthcare worker's Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is typically the responsibility of the employer. This includes various settings such as nonprofit health organizations, private hospitals, and governmental agencies like Health and Social Services. In the United States, the Affordable Care Act includes an employer mandate, which requires all employers with more than 50 employees to offer health insurance, and by extension, assumes the cost of safety measures such as PPE. Furthermore, in countries with government-run health services, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, the responsibility for providing PPE would fall within the remit of the public healthcare system.